Living Room Poufs

Over 400 living room pouffes by noo.ma, myfelt, Karup Design, Normann Copenhagen or Fatboy, in fabric, wool, cotton or velvet, from the 40 cm footstool to the giant pouffe of over 100 cm.

A living room pouffe works as an extra seat, a footstool or a coffee table. To be comfortable, its height should be close to the seat height of the sofa, that is 35 to 45 cm, and its width should stay between 40 and 70 cm. The selection brings together over 400 models in fabric, wool, cotton or velvet, nearly six in ten of them under €500.

Read our buying advice.

How to choose a living room pouffe

The essentials

A living room pouffe is chosen first of all by its use: extra seat, footstool or coffee table. In front of a sofa, aim for a height of 35 to 45 cm, equal to or slightly lower than the seat, and a width of 40 to 70 cm. For everyday use, a tightly woven fabric or a thick wool over a firm foam filling keeps its shape the longest.

Height: 35 to 45 cm for a footstool or an extra seat, level with the sofa seat or 2 to 5 cm below it.
Width: 40 to 55 cm for an occasional pouffe, 60 to 70 cm for a pouffe that doubles as a coffee table, 100 cm and over for a giant pouffe.
Material: synthetic fabric for heavy use, wool for warmth and durability, cotton for lightness, velvet for colour.
Clearance: 40 to 50 cm between the pouffe and the sofa, 60 cm along walkways.

Which type of pouffe should you choose for a living room?

The word pouffe covers very different pieces of furniture: a small 40 cm cylinder you can move with one hand, a square ottoman that extends the sofa, a giant pouffe you can stretch out in. Decide first what the pouffe will have to do in your living room.

Type of pouffe	Usual dimensions	Main use
Round or square occasional pouffe	40 to 55 cm wide, 35 to 45 cm high	Extra seat, footstool
Ottoman pouffe	55 to 70 cm square, 35 to 40 cm high	Extends the sofa, works as a coffee table with a tray
Pebble or organic-shaped pouffe	60 to 90 cm wide, 30 to 45 cm high	Low seat, on its own or in a group of two or three
Giant pouffe, bean bag, bean bag chair	100 cm and over	Reading, napping, TV corner
Modular pouffe	Modules of around 70 cm square	Combines into a bench seat or a chaise longue
Storage pouffe	40 to 60 cm wide	Stores throws, toys and magazines

General guidelines. The exact dimensions are given on each product page.

In the selection, the round shape is the most common, ahead of the square shape. Around fifteen models are modular and only a few include storage: if storage is your priority, start with that criterion.

What size of pouffe in front of a sofa?

Height matters more than width. A sofa seat is most often 40 to 45 cm from the floor. A pouffe higher than the seat forces you to lift your legs. A pouffe that is much lower no longer works as a seat for an adult.

Use	Recommended height	Width or diameter	Guideline
Footstool	35 to 42 cm	40 to 60 cm	Level with the sofa seat or 2 to 5 cm below it
Extra seat	40 to 45 cm	45 to 55 cm	Same height as a low chair, firm top
Coffee table	35 to 40 cm	60 to 70 cm	Flat, firm top, with a tray placed on it
Relaxing, reading	Low seat, 30 to 40 cm once seated	100 cm and over	Allow 50 cm of free space all around

With a three-seater sofa of around 200 cm, one pouffe of 60 to 70 cm or two pouffes of 45 to 50 cm keep the proportions right.

How to measureMeasure the seat height of your sofa, from the floor to the top of the cushion, then take off 2 to 5 cm: that is the ideal height for a footstool. Next, mark out the footprint of the pouffe on the floor with masking tape, 40 or 50 cm from the sofa. If the remaining walkway is less than 60 cm, choose a smaller diameter.

The most common sizes range from 50x35 cm and 55x55 cm for occasional pouffes to 68x68 cm for modules, and up to 100 or 105 cm wide for giant pouffes.

Fabric, wool, cotton or velvet: which material for a living room pouffe?

More than one in three living room pouffes in the selection is covered in a synthetic fabric, most often polyester. Wool comes second with nearly a quarter of the models, followed by cotton and linen, then velvet. Leather remains rare.

Material	To the touch	How it wears over time	Care
Synthetic fabric, bouclé, sherpa	Soft, sometimes textured	Very good, stands up to rubbing	Vacuum, dab stains with soapy water
Wool	Warm, dense, matt	Very good, barely loses its shape	Vacuum with a soft brush, cold water on stains
Cotton and linen	Cool, supple	Fair, creases and marks more easily	As per the label, cover sometimes washable
Velvet	Very soft, shifting sheen	Good, the pile can flatten	Soft brush in the direction of the pile

A comfortable pouffe that does not sag

The filling determines the lifespan as much as the cover does. Dense foam or a rigid frame keeps the seat flat: that is what you need for a footstool or a side table. Polystyrene beads mould to the body, which is what makes giant pouffes comfortable, but they compact over the years. To check the firmness, press down with the flat of your hand: the top should not sink by more than 3 to 4 cm on a pouffe meant to be used as a seat.

A bean-filled pouffe can be refilledA giant pouffe that sags is not worn out: its beads have compacted. Open the zip of the inner liner and top it up with refill beads, stopping at around two thirds of the volume. Overfilled, the pouffe becomes hard and no longer moulds to the shape of the body.

By material

noo.ma wool pouffes

Designer pouffe: which style and which colour to go with your sofa?

The pouffes in the selection are mainly contemporary and Scandinavian in style: simple shapes, no base or a discreet one, bold or natural colours. Beige dominates, followed by grey and brown, then blue and green.

Tone on tone: a pouffe in the same colour family as the sofa, one or two shades lighter or darker, makes the seating area look bigger.
In contrast: a single pouffe in a bright colour, orange, red or blue, is enough to liven up a grey or beige sofa. Pick up that colour again on a cushion or a vase.
Through texture: with a sofa in a smooth fabric, a pouffe in wool, bouclé or ribbed velvet adds depth without adding colour.

noo.ma and myfelt, the two most represented brands, work a great deal with wool. Fatboy offers its pouffes in sherpa and velvet. Hübsch offers wool pebble pouffes with a leather handle, Normann Copenhagen round velvet pouffes, Nobodinoz square ottomans in striped cotton.

A few living room pouffes from the selection

Fatboy Cider yellow sherpa pouf 40 x 70 cm Point - Fatboy €159,00

Pebbled blue wool pouffe with leather handle - Hübsch - The Cool Republic

Hübsch Blue wool pebble pouf with leather handle - Hübsch €220,00

Velvet pouffe 46 cm blush pink Circus - Normann Copenhagen - The Cool Republic

Normann Copenhagen Velvet pouf 46 cm blush pink Circus Blush - Normann Copenhagen €525,00

Design House Stockholm Beige recycled polyester pouf 50 cm Uno - Design House Stockholm €510,00

By colour

By brand

Which pouffe for which living room?

In a small living room or a studio flat

Under 20 m², stick to one pouffe 40 to 50 cm wide, light enough to be moved with one hand and slid under a console table when not in use. A storage pouffe adds storage without an extra piece of furniture. Avoid the giant pouffe, which takes up 1.5 to 2 m² on its own.

With children or pets

Go for a tightly woven synthetic fabric, in a mid-tone or mottled shade, which shows marks less than a pale cotton. Check on the product page that the cover is removable. Rule out loose knits and bouclé if your cat sharpens its claws. A pouffe with no corners or hard base limits knocks at child height.

In a large living room or a loft

Beyond 30 m², a single pouffe looks lost. Create a relaxation corner with a giant pouffe of 100 cm and over, or combine two to four modules of around 70 cm to form a low bench seat. Keep 60 cm of walkway around the whole arrangement.

On a tight budget

The median price of a living room pouffe in the selection is around €400. Nearly six models in ten are offered at under €500, and about one in five at under €200, mainly in small sizes in fabric or cotton. Pouffes at over €1,000 are large pieces in wool or leather.

How do you look after a living room pouffe?

Every week: vacuum with the soft brush attachment, on low power, paying particular attention to the seams.
Every month: rotate the pouffe by a quarter turn, to even out wear and the effect of light.
If there is a stain: dab straight away with a clean white cloth, without rubbing, from the edge towards the centre. Test on a hidden area before using a cleaning product.
Once or twice a year: wash the cover if the label allows it, generally at 30 °C, and leave it to air dry before putting it back on.

On velvet, brush in the direction of the pile to remove seat marks. Wool is cleaned with cold water, never hot water, which felts it. Place the pouffe more than 50 cm from a radiator and out of direct sunlight.

Frequently asked questions

What height should a living room pouffe be?

A living room pouffe is most often between 35 and 45 cm high. To be used as a footstool, it should come level with the sofa seat or 2 to 5 cm below it. For sitting on, aim for 40 to 45 cm and a firm top.

What size of pouffe in front of a three-seater sofa?

With a sofa around 200 cm wide, one pouffe of 60 to 70 cm or two pouffes of 45 to 50 cm are well proportioned. Leave 40 to 50 cm between the pouffe and the sofa to stretch out your legs. Keep 60 cm free along walkways.

Bean bag, storage pouffe or footstool: which one to choose for the living room?

The 40 to 60 cm footstool pouffe is the most versatile: it works as a seat, a footstool and a side table. The storage pouffe suits small living rooms that are short of storage. The bean bag or giant pouffe replaces an armchair and needs 1.5 to 2 m² of floor space.

Which material should you choose for a living room pouffe?

A tightly woven synthetic fabric is the most hard-wearing for everyday use. Wool lasts well over time and adds warmth. Cotton and linen are light but mark more quickly, and velvet needs regular brushing.

How do you stop a pouffe from sagging over time?

Choose a dense foam filling or a rigid frame if the pouffe is to be used as a seat or a side table. Bean-filled pouffes compact naturally: you simply top up the filling, to around two thirds of the volume. Rotating the pouffe every month also evens out wear.

Which pouffe for a small living room?

Choose a light pouffe 40 to 50 cm wide that you can slide under a console table or against a wall. A model with storage saves space. In less than 20 m², a single pouffe is enough and the giant pouffe is best avoided.

Which pouffe should you choose with children or pets?

Opt for a tightly woven synthetic fabric in a mid-tone shade, and a cover that comes off for washing. Avoid loose knits and bouclé if a cat sharpens its claws. A round shape with no hard base reduces the risk of knocks.

Can a pouffe replace a coffee table?

Yes, if it is firm, flat and 35 to 40 cm high. An ottoman 60 to 70 cm wide, topped with a rigid tray, holds cups and books. Two pouffes of 45 to 50 cm side by side do the same job and can be separated to make seats.